Treadmill toy



Dec. 5, 1944. F. E. THOMAS 2,364,253

TREAD-MILL TOY Filed Jan. 18, 1943 2 sheets-sheet 1 111152111501' Qynwont/a6" Dec. 5, 1944. F. E. THoMAs 2,364,253

TREAD-MILL TOY Filed Jan. 18, 1945 2 sheets-sheep 2 In :je: rrlor:

. l gran @.omccsp Patented Dec. 5, 1944 UNITED [STATES PATENT OFFICE l2,364,253 y TREADMILL TOY Frank E. Thomas,pClcago, Ill. ApplicationJanuary 18, 1943, Serial No. 472,661

Claims.

This invention relates to toys and has for its primary object to producean illusory effect, by indicating an animal robot.'Y operating atreadmill rendering the illusion of creating sufcient energy to operatea` pumping mechanism, or the like, when in reality a concealed source ofmotive power actually operates the pumping unit to produce the movementof the animal, simulating its steady walking gait on a tread-millstructure in other words, altho the device is operated by concealedmotive power means, the illusion created is that the animal walking onthe treadmill structure produces suilicient energy tooper ate amechanical-system in this particular instance a pumping unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide av liquid pumping unit incombination with pressure controlled structure which will provide a`continuous pressure stream to operate rotor means in turn operating atread-mill structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide power translation meansbetween driving means and driven means, Whichwill motivate thefsaid`driven means in one direction regardless of thenovel in construction,practical and eiiicient in its operation and which will provide an.illusionary effect as hereinabove elucidated and which is of" suchsimple construction as to warrant quantity production thereof ateconomical cost.

Other objects, features, and advantages inherent in my invention willbecome readily apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawingsand the ensuing description wherein like nu. merals are used todesignate like parts. land inl Fig. 1 is a top elevational view oi myinventionsv Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of my.inven tion withcertain fragmentary longitudinal crosssectional portions shown, in ordertc more clearly depict the nature of the construction and operation ofmy invention.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional. view onf the line 3-3 ofFigure 1. f

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional the line 4-4`of Figure l.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional the staggered line 5-5 ofFigure 1.

View o View On Fig. 6 is a transversal cross-sectional view on the line6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, my invention is, generally,designated by the numeral I and its comprises a base B3 which isprovided with suitable channel recesses 2| to accommodate the tongues 9of the molding 8, also to receive the tennon 20 of the support I9.Several pieces of molding B are used in order to secure the circulatingrmeans comprising a part of my. inven` tion, by virtue of the flanges I6which are clamped within the recess portions I0 of the molding 8 and theintermediate molding piece I I being provided with recesses I8 to clampthe said flange 84 firmly in place. The molding member II is alsoprovided with a slotted portion I3 to receive the support I2. Thesupport I2 which is recessed at I7 in order to furnish clearance for theconnecting tube 40 connecting the receiving trough 4I and the storagetrough 38 as will hereinafter be elucidated and described. The supportI2 also has a V recess I4 in its top in order to cradle the portion I5of the force Vpump unit generally designated 52 superimposed therein.

The pumping structure is comprised of a reservoir 38 which contains apumping guide cylinder, generally, designated 31 and which has anopening therein 36 into which is fitted the pump piston 3l. The pumppiston 3I is preferably bored out to receive the shoulder 30 of the pumprod 28` 'frictional contact between the pump piston 3l and the opening35 within the cylinder 31. Between the pump rod 28 and the piston 3 I, Isecure a cup of soft resilient material 32, and its purpose or operationwill later be elucidated. The pumping unit, the reservoir 38, vtheconnecting pipe 40,. and the trough 4I `are connected bymeans of byI`pass 39 lpermitting a liquid to circulate freely.

therein.

At'the top of the recessed tube 31 and within.

the recess 3B is tted a cork bushing designated 5U within which acompressed felt cr resilient member 5I is placed in order to act as agland for the moving plunger 28 which operates ver-f tcally andalternately up and down.' The movement of the plunger 28 in a downwarddirection'. causes the resilient side Walls of the cup 32 to becompressed toward the center of the structure thus allowing the liquid43 to by-pass freely, the

piston 3l thus offers no resistance to the liquid pressure exertedagainst the piston 3| when moved in a downward direction, the liquidbeing caused to by-pass by virtue of the recesses 33; however, when thepump rod 28 is moved in an upward direction the liquid weightaccumulated above the resilient cup 32 will force the outer edges of thecylindrical portion of the said cup to adhere closely and .seal theopening 36 thus causing the liquid to be lifted and passed on into therecess Within section 53, wherein the liquid forces the ball valve 55upward permitting the liquid to pass into the conduit portion 56;moreover, should the liquid thus accumulated be pumped more rapidly thanit can be dispensed thru the nozzle section 60, the air 59 within theglobular chamber 51 will be compressed by virtue of the rise of thesurface 58 of the liquid, hence on the downward stroke the expansion ofthe compressed air 59 will cause the stream jet from the nozzle 60 to becontinuous thus offering a continual steady rotation to the rotor 45.The jet coming from the nozzle 60 may be controlled by adjustment of thepet-cock structure 6| .which is provided with a resilient liner member63 made oi cork or other suitable material so as to offer a neatcushioning effect and provide proper sealing preventing seepage at thevalve outlet 62.

To corinne the jet of liquid to the rotor, the nozzle 60 is angularlypositioned as shown, and the top of trough 4l is preferably flaredoutwardly as shown at 42. expands and drives the liquid out thru thenozzle 60, at the same time liquid pressure exerted to the left ofpressure bell 51 will cause the ball Valve 55 to seal against thereduced neck portion 54 thus not impeding operation of the pumpmechanism. The pumping unit is operated by the link 25 which has aslotted portion 26 secured to a stud 21 which in turn is eccentricallypositioned and secured to the V groove pulley 41 rotated by the V beltmember 48 the said V belt member being connected to a concealed sourceof motive power Which may be an electric motor, or a spring Wound motor,or any other suitable motive power means which is concealed either in acompartment provided below the base, or concealed in any suitable mannernot indicated on the drawings.

The link member 25 is, preferably, pivoted in the dual bearing member 22having geared portions 23 to receive the pivot pin 24 to which the linkmember is pivotably secured, its motion being confined to the dotted andfull lines in Figure 2.

The tread-mill arrangement is comprised of a bearing plate member 13 anda plate member 14A to which rollers 15 having bearing pins 12 are'rotatably secured. The said bearing plates 13 and 14, may be reinforcedby stays 8| and 82 rabbeted thereto and as well to the base 83. The saidroller members 15 are, preferably, slightly crowned or a textilematerial` so thatits-elasticity--will tend to hold the same'frictionallyin contact withthe The continuous belting:

rollers 15 at all times. member 69 is provided withslats 10 and 1I whichare positioned in staggered relationship as indi-A cated in order totrip alternately the right and left front and rear legs 66 of the animal64; the

said legs being suitably pivoted at 65 in order toA permit the saidslats 10 and 1I, respectively, to

trip the said legs alternately as hereinbefore' When the compressed air59 stated. The slats 10 are evenly spaced around the surface of thebelting 69, and as Well the slats 1I are also evenly spaced. Thedistance between slats being not less than the distance between frontand rear legs of the animal robot 64, so as to permit the legs to betripped slowly and intermittently, the speed of the tread-mill beingrather slow.

The animal 64 is, preferably, supported on a bifurcated member 11 whichhas supporting prongs 19 inserted and glued or otherwise secured to theanimal 54. The member 11 is provided with a reduced shank portion 18which is driven into a suitable opening in the plate or bearing member13. The pulley 41 is pivoted at 49 on an extended bearing portionprovided on the top of element 14 so that it will permit the said pulleyto rotate freely and allow the eccentric button 21 to work freely withinthe slotted portion 26 of the link 25, thus causing the link toworkwithin the contines of the full and dotted lines indicated in Figure 2;this will cause the pump rod 28 to be moved up and down and thus causethe pump to operate by pumping the liquid within the confines of thecirculating structure comprised of elements 4I, 40, 31, and thereservoir 38, causing the same to circulate by means of the force feedpressure structure 52 causing liquid to be force fully ejected thru thenozzle 60 operating the rotor 45 by virtue of the series of vanes 44which are lxedly secured thereto. The rotor 45 is pivoted at 46 and issecured to the V grooved pulley 61 which by virtue of belting member 80is connected to pulley 68, it in turn being fixedly secured to one ofthe roller elements 15 supporting the tread-mill belting structureheretofore mentioned and described.

The circulating structure has been, preferably,

indicated to be made of glass and the support structure may be made ofwood or any other material. Altho glass has been indicated, anytransparent plastic substance may be used for making this toy.

Altho I have shown and indicated a preferred form of my invention, madeof materials that at' the present time are not considered critical warmaterials, I realize that the invention is susceptible of manyimprovements, hence, I reserve the right to change or modify thisconstruction within the spirit and scope of my invention, and within thepurview of the foregoing description; my

invention to be limited only by the subjoined:

claims.

Having thus described and revealed my invention 'what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a toy of the character described, endless belt means, tread-millmeans, comprising a prime series of traction elements evenly spaced andmounted thereupon, and a second series of traction elements evenlyspaced mounted in staggered relationshipto the said .prime series oftraction' elements, and continuously circulating fluidpres' suremotivating means including ffo'rc'e pump means provided with an airchamber and nozzle means capable of forming a iiuid jet a'dapted'to'operate the said tread-mill means.

2. In a toy of the character described, a robotj figure its body rigidlysupported having articulate pedal extremities, tread-mill meanscomprising, endless belt means, a prime series of traction elementsmounted thereupon, and a second seriesv of traction elements mountedthereupon in stagc. gered relationshipl to the said prime series4 oi,T

traction elements, Vand continuously circulating J fluid pressuremotivating means including force pump means provided with an air chamberand nozzle means capable of forming a fluid jet adapted to operate thesaid tread-mill means. i

3. In a toy of the character described, power transmission meanscomprising, driving means, liquid circulating means comprising,reciprocating Iforcepump. means provided with an air chamber, adjustablevalve means associated with said pump means adapted to vary the pressureof a jet of liquid expelled therethru, trough means adapted to receivethe said expelled liquid, and rotor means secured rotatably to the saidtrough means adapted to be rotated by the pressure of said expelled jetof liquid.

4. In a toy of the character described, treadmill means comprising,endless belt means, a prime series of traction elements evenly spacedand mounted thereupon, a second series of traction elements evenlyspaced mounted in staggered relationship to the said prime seriesoftraction elements, a robot figure its body rigidly supported having-articulate pedal extremities, the said prime and second series oftraction elements adapted to motivate each of the said pedalextremities, alternately, one at a time, and continuously circulatingfluid pressure motivating means including force pump means provided withan air chamber and nozzle means capable of forming a uid jet adapted tooperate the said tread-mill means.

5. A toy of the character described comprising, a base, reciprocatingforce pump means mounted thereupon, tread-mill means cooperating withthe said reciprocating force pump means adapted to motivate saidtread-mill means, eccentric means mounted on the said base adapted tooperate the said reciprocating force pump means, and r-obot meansrigidly mounted provided with articulate pedal extremities, the saidtread-mill means provided `with staggered traction elements adapted tomotivate each of the said pedal extremities, al* ternately, one at atime.

6. In a device of the character described, power transmission meanscomprising, driving means, driven means, and continuously circulatingfluid pressure means including force pump means provided with an airchamber and nozzle means c'apable of forming a fluid jet adapted totranslate power and motion imparted by the said driving means to thesaid driven means.

7. Power transmission means comprising, continuously circulating fluidpressure including force pump means provided with an air chamber andnozzle means capable of forming a fluid jet means interposed betweendriving means and driven means.

FRANK E. THOMAS.

